TCU women hold off Kansas for seventh Big 12 victory

On a night when the Big 12’s second-best free-throw shooting team made just 63 percent heading into the final minutes, senior guard Natalie Ventress stepped up and sank four straight to ensure TCU’s 73-67 win over Kansas on Tuesday.

With TCU holding just a four-point lead, Ventress entered the final 14 seconds 0 for 2 at the free-throw line.

Those final four points pushed the senior’s total to 14 on the night, trailing only junior guard Zahna Medley’s 19 and junior guard Veja Hamilton’s 18.

TCU (15-10, 7-7 Big 12) held an 18-point lead with 15 minutes to play, but the Horned Frogs saw their advantage dwindle to two with 55 seconds remaining.

Kansas’ all-around offensive threat, 6-foot-3 forward Chelsea Gardner, netted 16 points in the second half after being stifled to just four in the opening period.

TCU junior forward Aiche Ndao picked up her first start of the season — partly to match up against Gardner — and earned a nod of approval from coach Raegan Pebley.

“She made it harder for their very good post player to score,” Pebley said. “And I felt like when she was in there tonight she used her fouls well.”

Jayhawks senior guard Natalie Knight stole the show, however, posting a game-high 29 points, including 18 in the second half.

“Natalie Knight was just really aggressive,” Pebley said. “I think she’s really emerged as one of the most aggressive scorers in the conference.

“If we see them again in the conference tournament, we’re going to really have to figure out a way that we can slow her scoring down.”

Knight and Gardner combined to pull down nine rebounds in the second half for Kansas (13-14, 4-10), which helped close the Jayhawks’ deficit on the boards from 20-11 to 31-30 at the final buzzer.

“I felt like momentum was created more for us when we were able to get some rebounds and some hustle plays and loose balls,” Pebley said. “You saw multiple players on the floor really fighting.”

Defensive rebounding was a focus of Medley’s game, she said, which opened up one-on-one drives to the basket in transition. She finished with four boards.

The Horned Frogs forced 20 turnovers — including 12 steals — which resulted in 27 points.

But Pebley was most impressed with her team’s ability to rebound after Saturday’s difficult 77-54 loss at Oklahoma

“I think the way this team responded after Oklahoma the very next day says a lot about their character and the leadership in the program,” Pebley said. “When we lose, we have to learn.

“We have to keep getting better.”

This story was originally published February 17, 2015 at 11:36 PM with the headline "TCU women hold off Kansas for seventh Big 12 victory."